Once a Coolidge Cougar, Always a Cougar
The Spagnuolo family takes the Coolidge Elementary School motto to heart, "Once a Coolidge Cougar always a Cougar."
Henri represents the third generation of Spagnuolos to attend the school, following after his father, Sam, and grandfather, Albert "Bert." Henri is currently in first grade at the family Alma Mater, loving his time in Mrs. Auxter's class. His favorite classes are Art and Phys. Ed. and he loves to read. Last month he participated in the Book Club at the Library with Mrs. G and loved it! Henri wants to be an engineer like his "Poppy" Bert when he grows up.
Roots in Wyckoff
The family's roots run deep in Wyckoff. Bert retells his story of growing up, "My family first lived in Paterson before moving to Wyckoff," he explained. "Eventually, my family moved to a house on Flaker Drive in 1956 when I was two-years-old."
Since that day, Bert has called Wyckoff his home, and he and his wife Sammy have raised their sons Samuel and Matthew in that very house. Over the years, Bert has rebuilt the house himself, finding pride in reinventing his childhood home.
Memories of Coolidge and a Changing Wyckoff
Bert happily reminisced about his youthful days in Wyckoff, particularly his time at Calvin Coolidge Elementary. He recalls his kindergarten classroom with the fireplace, that very well may still be intact, but some practices at the school surely have changed. For instance, Bert chuckled, "There was no school nurse on the premises, so ill children were seen elsewhere. If you were sick, you sat on a bench outside the principal's office. The secretary would call Dr. Ballas's office, located across the street from the school on Grandview Avenue. The nurse would let the secretary know if it was okay for the child to see the doctor. I remember being told to go across the street to the doctor's office. The secretary and the nurse would stay on the phone together until I arrived there."
Coolidge and the surrounding woods were Bert's extended backyard. The area behind Coolidge was heavily wooded until Bert's father had an idea. He and a neighbor decided that a path would help the kids on their commute and together they forged a path that still exists today. Unbeknownst to many of its current travelers, Bert still maintains that path, breaking branches and forging routes to help its current Cougars every fall. "Today, we walk that path with Henri and tell our grandchildren stories about the way things used to be. In fact, we've even created a route from the Water Company field down to Kimber's Tots where Lennon goes (and Henri once did) to create a path system to all of our schools."
Bert remembers that during his childhood, Wyckoff was still rural and had numerous farms. "There was a dairy farm where Wyckoff Avenue, Hillcrest Avenue and Newton Road meet," he recalls. "There was a little store and a cigar box where you left money if you purchased ice cream or some other item. If you didn't have money you marked your name and purchase in a ledger and the farmer would settle the bill with your father."
The Barrister Court housing development on Grandview Ave. was a private parcel of land owned by the Hoffman family. Mr. Hoffman owned the lumber company where Kuiken Brothers is today. Mrs. Hoffman loved horses. In addition to their home, the property included stables, pastures and a large barn with indoor riding facility. Every Fall the Hoffmans would host a large barbecue and part of the festivities included a trail ride. Bert recalls, "A single file line of riders would walk their horses down Grandview Ave, through Coolidge School property and into the Water Company field next to our house. Once there they would gallop around the perimeter to exercise the horses. You could feel the ground shake as they thundered past you."
Tom Norman's Sporting Goods was the place in town where you could buy fishing gear, worms, firearms and ammunition. The owner was a good gunsmith and also the town Chief of Police. It was not uncommon for him to answer the phone while talking to you, then excuse himself to go back to Town Hall to attend to some urgent police duties.
From Villanova to Firestone — and Finding Sammy
In addition to Coolidge school, Bert graduated from Eisenhower Middle School, Ramapo High School and eventually received a degree in Engineering from Villanova University. Following graduation, Bert's first job was at Firestone tire factory in Salinas, California. During a trip back east to visit family, Bert stopped in at Hawthorne Chevrolet to visit his best friend, Glenn Walker. Glenn introduced Bert to Sammy, who also worked there. Bert simply refused to leave without asking her to go out with him. "She said no" he laughed, but he wasn't quitting that easily. Bert returned out west but a year later was back living on the East Coast and returned to ask Sammy again. This time she said yes.
"I took her to a venison dinner sponsored by the Rod & Gun Club," Bert recalls. Soon enough, they were inseparable. "We were engaged on Christmas Eve at Bert's house," said Sammy.
This year marks 45 years of marriage and 40 years in their beloved home.
Bert's Career and Retirement
In 2025, Bert retired from IBM after 42 years of dedicated work as an engineer. "I worked at the 450 acre microchip manufacturing facility in East Fishkill, New York," said Bert. "It was a 60 mile commute each way."
Retirement has allowed him more time to take on home projects and spend time with his grandchildren. "I like gardening and building things. Now that I'm retired I spend a lot of time on home improvement projects at our house as well as my son's homes whenever needed."
He also enjoys fresh and salt water fishing, something retirement has allowed him to do more frequently with his sons and grandkids. "Besides NJ, I've fished in the Pacific, Alaska, Florida and the Canadian Northwest Territories, 350 miles north of the arctic circle." Bert said. "We take Henri and Lennon to the Wyckoff Fishing Derby every year. Lennon has a blast and Henri has placed for his age group two years in a row!"
Sammy: The Heart of the Family
After the births of her sons, Sammy became very involved in their education. She loved volunteering at Coolidge School, serving on the PTO Executive Board, volunteering at the bike rally, pizza lunch, and field and theme days. She also ran the May Friendship Dinner for more than 10 years. As the boys grew older, Sammy returned to work and for the last 26 years she has been the Practice Manager at Family Eye Care in town. Bert asserts that Sammy has been the heart of the family since they've been together. "Sammy is the fun one," he admits. "She keeps our social calendar, remembers every birthday for family and friends, organizes the annual family summer vacation and hosts our holiday gatherings."
Sammy was raised in Hawthorne along with her two sisters, Carol and Diane. "My mother was from Le Faouet, France. She brought a lot of wonderful French traditions here that we continue to cherish." Sammy's sister Carol also lives in Wyckoff and their sons were raised very closely and the family continues with many traditions. Sammy's youngest son Matthew graduated from Salisbury University and continued to gain his Special Education and Administrative Leadership degree from Felician College. He is currently a teacher in Hawthorne where Sammy grew up and her sister Carol still teaches. "Matt started his teaching career at Roosevelt Elementary School, which is the school I attended. He has taught many elementary grades, including special education, and is currently a 5th grade teacher at Washington Elementary School in Hawthorne," Sammy explained. "He has also coached soccer and softball at my alma mater, Hawthorne High School." Sammy and Bert say they are blessed to have their family so close by. "Matt is in Hawthorne and Sam and his wife, Meghan are a seven minute walk from our house," Sammy beamed. "Bert and I love having everyone by and having our house filled with all the kids and grandkids."
Sam and Meghan: The Next Generation
Sammy and Bert's oldest son Sam followed in his father's footsteps and made it back to Wyckoff after attending the University of Massachusetts for undergrad and spending some time in Hoboken. It was here he met Meghan.
They met at Tenth and Willow in Hoboken, which is apparently common amongst the Wyckoff crowd. Meghan picked up bartending shifts there while she was in grad school and on an off-day she happened to be hanging out, Sam popped in with a friend. "Lots of guys who grew up in Wyckoff would hang out there. It was like the Wyckoff 'Cheers' bar," Meghan laughed. "I knew many of Sam's friends as regulars and one day we started chit chatting at the bar." Sam seemed smitten and a follow up date quickly ensued and they had their first date sipping coffee and talking on a nearby park bench. "Meghan was funny and casual," Sam smiles. "I was relaxed and felt like I could be myself around her." On a rainy day a few years later, Sam proposed to Meghan on that same park bench. They were married in 2017.
Today, Sam and Meghan have three children, Henri (6), Lennon (5) and Rosie (1). The children's names hold ties to family members. "When my Mimi was moving, we were sorting through some items and we came across an old newspaper with her brother's name, which was Henri, and we liked the name, but also loved the way it was spelled," Sam remembers. Their daughters are named after Meghan's maternal grandmother, Rose Lennon. "I was very close to my Nana growing up," Meghan recalls. "She lived close by and we were constantly at her house or she was watching us. Every Sunday the whole family gathered at her house for dinner. She was always there whenever we needed anything." Meghan can't help but connect this to the same way Bert and Sammy show up for their family now.
Meghan's Journey
Ironically, Meghan grew up playing soccer and despite living in South Orange, traveled to Wyckoff to play for the Torpedoes when she was in middle school. After graduating from Columbia High School in South Orange (also a Cougar Mascot), Meghan went to James Madison University and then received her Masters in Teaching from New Jersey City University. She became a social studies teacher and coached soccer in Jersey City Public Schools until she returned to her hometown in South Orange and taught at her former middle school. After 12 years and building deep and meaningful connections with her students, she was inspired to make a career shift. After Lennon was born, Meghan attended Seton Hall University to earn a second Master's Degree in School Counseling. On the day of her graduation she got the joyous news she was pregnant with Rosie and has been home with her since. "Just recently," Meghan states, "I was accepted and enrolled in a program at TCNJ to receive a Clinical Mental Health Certification toward a counseling license so I can work in or outside of a school setting." Admittedly a "forever student", when she's not studying and taking care of the kids and home, she is Class Mom for Henri's first grade class, something she says she gets very excited about as a mom and former teacher.
Sam's Career and the Doolies
Sam graduated from Ramapo High School in 2003 where he played baseball and ran track. After graduating from University of Massachusetts, he got his MBA from Felician College. He is currently the Vice-President of Sales and Marketing for Subaru Distributor Corporation.
"My territory is New Jersey and New York so I do a decent amount of traveling and we're grateful my parents can help out with the kids," said Sam.
After Hoboken, Sam and Meghan lived in Glen Ridge but bought a house in Hawthorne shortly after they were married. Right before Henri was to begin Kindergarten they found a house in Wyckoff, right in the Coolidge section near Sam's parents. "Coolidge has been a special place for my family for generations and a place of so many memories and friendships," Sam reminisced. "Henri is a student now and Lennon will start in September. I loved being able to show him around the school and share all that I remembered. It felt special." Sam said that he is still friends with his elementary school pals, most of which have moved back to Wyckoff or bordering towns. "It's nice to pass all of the memories and traditions along and raise our kids here now." In addition, they have forged many friendships with fellow Cougar parents and have fallen in love with their neighborhood.
One of the other bonds that has held Sam and his lifelong friends together for decades is their high arc softball league. "Our team is called the Doolies and we have played for more than 20 years every summer Sunday afternoon in Ramsey," Sam said. Most recently, his brother Matt and his buddies joined in this tradition. What's his secret to maintaining long-time friendships? "Most of us go back to kindergarten. We made great friendships early on and have always been there for each other and that's the same thing we want for our kids."
With Lennon entering Coolidge next year and Rosie a few years after, it looks like the Spagnuolo traditions and memories will continue to flourish out of Coolidge School and the Wyckoff neighborhoods to come. "Once a Cougar, always a Cougar."
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